Oxford named among UK’s 10 happiest places to live for 2026

The city has been named as the fourth happiest place to live in, according to a May 2026 study on living standards across UK cities.

A new report by property-selling company Housebuyers4u reveals where Brits actually feel happy about their lives and neighbourhoods.

Missing out on a podium finish, the study noted how steady employment keeps most Oxford residents financially secure.

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“About 81 per cent of working-age adults hold jobs here, among the highest rates in the country,” read the report.

“The city also offers crime-free streets with a 63 safety score and, being a student city, locals here also have plenty of places to go out with friends, so only 7.5 per cent struggle with loneliness.

“Given all these perks, most Oxford residents rate their lives 7.68 out of 10, much higher than their neighbours in Reading.”

The research looked at 50+ major UK cities to see where people are happiest, and measured how satisfied residents feel with their lives on a scale of 0 to 10.

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It also looked at how safe their neighbourhoods are, and what their surroundings are like in terms of parks, housing, and getting around.

The study tracked how many people feel lonely, how many have jobs, and how often locals search online for things like “am I depressed” or “I can’t sleep.”

Each city received a score out of 100, with higher numbers meaning happier residents.

York was declared the happiest city in Britain, offering residents affordable housing, reliable public transport, and the safest streets in the country.

Ipswich was ranked second, Newcastle came third, and Sheffield was in fifth, while Brighton, Edinburgh, Crawley, Cambridge and Swindon rounded off the top 10.